Centrifugal separator



July 18, 1950 Filed May 8, 1946 A. H. DEROCHER 2,515,398

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 18, 1950 A. H. DEROCHER CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 8, 1946 I E 5. a M A E E N EII. H E W7 V N r \N\ M Mk \m w I x N. w H INN \w MW, M U E m; w Q

July 18, 1950 A. H. DEROCHER CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR 3 SheetsSheet 5 Filed May 8, 1946 1272512201 Fem 0e /7- dfficmfz? Patented July 18, 1950 2,515,398 I CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR Arthur H. Derocher, Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii Application May 8; 1946, Serial No. 668,232

I 17 Claims.

.1 r This invention relates to improvements in centrifugal separators, and more especially concerns .a novel continuous centrifuge for the separation of'solids from liquids such as fiber from pineapple juice or the like.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a simple, compact and highly efficient continuous centrifugal separator for theseparation of solids on the order of pulp and fiber entrained in fruit juices to be clarified, such as pineapple juice and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a continuous centrifugal separator in which the removal of solids from a liquid is effected in an unusually smooth'and uniform manner which minimizes agitation that might cause foaming or' frothing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a continuous centrifuge for removing solids from 'a liquid and having improved means for separating entrained air from the liquid as a continuous part of the separating action of the apparatus.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a separator of the character indicated in which improved results are attained through the action of a novel rotor and impeller structure.

A still further object of the invention is to provide .a novel relationship of a solids collector.

tion with the accompanying three sheets of drawings, in which: I s

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a continuous centrifuge embodying the features of the invention, and showing certain associated equipment more or less schematically;

Figure 2 is a diametrical vertical sectional view taken substantially along theline lI-1I of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along substantially the line IV-IV of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in substantially the same plane as Figure 2 but showin a modified form of the invention providing for separation of air from the liquid undergoing centrifugal treatment.

Having more particular reference to the drawvings, a centrifuge l0 (Figs. land 2) embodying;

the features of the invention, is adapted to be carried by a mountin plate ll supported byuaj frame Ila at a suitable height above a floor or base. Supported by the mounting plate Hand projecting through an opening 12' in theplate, is an. elongated bearinghousing l3 for a cen trifuge drive shaft 14. Any suitable source of.

power, such as anelectric motor l5, may be provided fordrivingthe shaft, I4 and for this purpose may be equipped with a drive pulley ll connected .by drive belts [8 with a pulley l9 fixed upon the drive shaft.

A liquid to be clarified, such as pineapple juice.-

or the, like, is adapted to be supplied to-the centrifuge H] from any suitable source of supply. such as an extractor (not shown) through an. intake 20 which may be connected by suitable conduit with the source of supply. The intake 20 is preferably mounted to communicate axially with the bottom of the centrifuge l0.

Separated liquid is discharged through a radially opening port 2| which is adapted to be placed incommunication by way of suitable conduits with a storage receptacle or bottle-o-r-ca'nfilling hopper or the like. Separated solids are ejected from the centrifuge asa continuous process through one or more discharge ports 22 leading to respective control valves 23 which are-ad justedto maintain a predetermined back pres-' sure on the ejected solids.

Upon venteringthe centrifuge Ill through the in the opposing face of a shrouded type rotorimpeller 28 of generally flattened form carried by the lower end of the drive shaft It. From the distribution chamber 25, the liquid with entrained solids is drawn and impelled by cen'- trifugal action in the rotation of the rotor 28' radially outwardly through expanding volutepassages 29 (Fig. 3) to the periphery of the rotor where the solids are driven into spirally enlarging collector channels 30 respectively leading'to the discharge ports 22 in the wall of a liquid flows into a collector head chamber 35 and then out through the discharge port 2|.

All of the various fluid chambers and passages in the centrifuge, are provided by a few relatively simple concentrically interfitting parts which can be very economically formed as castings adapted to be conveniently machined for snug internested fit in the assembly. linla ddition-sto the collector ring 3!, the assembly includes a head plate mem--;

ber 31 which is formed with a rabbet groove 38 on its lower outer margin providing a comple mentary seat for nested registration therewith On its upper-"faca 'thehead member 3! is formed with an upstanding; I

of the collector ring 3i.

radially inwardly facing annular shoulder 39 defining a seating area 40 for receiving a center- "a-relatively- -large radius and forms a smooth flow -directing lip 60 which has its extremity tain lateral annular flange 4! mm lower end of the bearing housing !3 and lying againsttthe margin of the base plateg ll about the clearance aperture l2. A pluralitybfscrews 42 secure the head member 31" and thefsupporting flange 41 fixedlytogether and"'to the' 'baseplate H. At

the center or the head member 31 "is a bore is" clearing a'hub M projecting froni'the top" of 'the rotor 28- H t ,l

Seated "agai'n'stth collector-ring!!! is a skim mer plate 45' which is" formed with a marginal rabbet groove 45 complementary to theopposedv surfaces ofthe collectorring 3! for centered internested assembly therewith, A pluralityfof bolts 4'! secure the collector ring 3|, the 'top member 3'! and the skimmer plate 145 securely,

but'detachably togetherfi l 'Itis'within the skimmer 45'that the diminish ing spiral iiuid passages 33 are provided, such passages being defined 'byspiral vanes in the form of integral"partitions-48; the direction of spiral being generally in the directiono'f'rotation of the rotor 28. The "annular gravity fl'uid passage 34 is provided in part by an annular groove 49 in the skimmerplate 45 communicating freely with the innerend of the skimmer p'ajssages'33j Substantially completing the fexternal assem lily of the centrifuge is' a bottom member 50 which internestingly interengages with theskimmer plate 45 and has' an annular 'gravity fiuid passage groove registering' with the fcom'plement'ary passage groove 49"and completing the liquid gravityfluid passageway, the collecting chamber 35 being cored out belo'w the groove 5!.

A 'cente'red relationship of theibottom member 50;

with the skimmer plate "F45 is attainedb'y the reception of a reduced diameter axial stem portion 52 extending from the bottom member into a complementary axial bore 53 in the skimmer plate45. I r I l To secure the bottom member 5Dto' the skim mer plate 45 in anypreferred rotary adjusted position particularly for'angular' adjustment of the outlet 2| Leclamps 54' are secured by stud bolts 55 against-aclamping shoulder 51 provided by a flange projecting laterally from the bottom memberagainst the skimmer plate;

It will be observed from Fig. 2 that the bottom member stem 52 cooperates with :the skimmer plate 45, the collector ring 3| and the head member. 37 to provide a substantial chamber 58-within which'the impeller-rotor. 28 is housed operaskimmer passages is attained by forming thoseedges of the impeller vane extensions 32 which.

. pered or feathered to a merger with the upper sides of the collector grooves. Liquid to be clarified-isconfined between the top wall 59 and a spaced confining or bottom wall 6| which preferably has its inner surface in a horizontal plane coincident, with. the inner end surface of the ste'i'n52', thereby'co'operating with the inner surface ofthe" top wallf59'to afford a gradually di-v minishing. or funnel shape, whenconsidered in' radial section; to the centrifugal passages 29 in' the impeller. By preferenca lalsdithe inner sur'-' face or the bottom wa1l6I 'issubstantian ill a plane I with the upper sides of the collector grooves 36' and the terminal edge of thetop wall fiowfdirecting lip' 60..

'The'o'ute'r peripheral edge of'thefbot'tom wall 6i is spacedirom the inner. diameter of the collector ring 3! to agreater extent than the-spacing between the adjacent margin of the' bottom walland the opposing surface ofthe top wall 59'.

from which it enters thespace between 'the outer edge of "the bottom wall 61 and the collector ring,

v widening centrifugal flowpassages 29. The outer endsof the vanes 63 terminate'in thelimpeller vane extensions 32 which extend in radial planes and extend axially'b'eyon'd the bottom wall. Ell, being formed with vedge contours complementary P to the walls "defining thevlannular flow reversal chamber 62 while their peripheral edgesfsw'eep;

close to the inner diameter of the collector. ring" 3|; In' this. way'all of the centrifugally driven liquid receives equal separating treatment andis positively impelled into the skimmer passages Improved propulsion'pf thevliquidiinto the oppose the entrances to the skimmer passages-33 with beveledpfiow. booster surfaces 64. These booster surfaces 64 also serveitotreduce agitation of the impelledclarified liquid as it is driven in reverse direction by the impeller vanes. r To summarize. the operation of the. centrifuge v (0 briefly, liquid to be'separated which is supplied continuously through the inlet 20 under.

low pressure andpasses axially through the de: livery passage 24 and through the distribution chamber 25 is centri'fugally, impelled through c, thecentrifugal paisages 29 in the impeller where it attains a relatively high centrifugal velocity,

This 'aifo'rdsfin effect, a narrow throat; through which the centrifu'gally'driven liquid must pass with a substantially Venturi' action and .au ases Maximum velocity is reached at the relatively narrow throat defined at the exit from each of the passages 29, the top :wall marginal lip 60 directing the solids to be separated toward the collector ring 3| and the clarified liquid into the annular separation and reversal chamber 62. As the solids accumulate in the collector grooves 30 they are progressively expelled through the discharge ports 22 by the pressure of accumulation and the action of the impeller vane extensions .32 acting to urge the accumulat'ed solids onwardlythrough the spirally expanding collector grooves to the-respective out- "lets. The clarified liquid, impelled by the vanes 32 passes onthroughthe skimmer passages 33 and the gravity flow passage, 36 to the collector chamber. 35 andv isthen drawn oif through the discharge port 2|. Since the separated solids in, the volute groove 30 are subjectto controlled back pressure from the valve 23, an ample cake of the solids is maintained at all times in the collector grooves and discharge ports 22 to seal off the liquid from discharge therethrough.

Where a liquid which because of its viscosity tends to carry entrained air therewith is to be handled in the centrifuge, means may be provided for separating the air therefrom as a continuous process coincident with the centrifugal separation of the solids from the liquid.

For this purpose, an air-separating or exhaust structure such as shown in Fig. 5 may be incorporated in the device as a part of the bottom member 50 which has an air duct 65 extending parallel to the delivery passagezd interiorly of the collector head chamberv 35 and communicating atitsinner end by way of atake-off or vent port 66 successively with the inner ends of the centrifugal passages 29 in the impeller. By preference, the vent 66 is formed in an integral lip structure 61 which projects above the upper end of the stem 52 into the distribution chamber 25 and with the vent opening in the direction .of liquid flow. The lip extremity preferably extends into a clearance groove la in the adjacent roof face of the impeller. Any tendency for liquid to escape through the air inlet 65 is minimized since it is drawn past in a direction away from the inlet lip fil Since the air is the lightest component of the charge in the centrifuge it tends to accumulate adjacent the center of ;rotation of the impeller and will thus escape through the vent 66 into the air passage 65. From the air passage 65, the air may be drawn {off through a lateral passage 68 adjacent the lower end of the bottom member 59 and coinmunicating with an exhaust duct 63 leading to a suitable drain or collecting receptacle to handle such small amount of liquid as may be carried over in the separated air.

,Although the centrifuge I!) has been shown as preferably disposed on a vertical axis and with an underfeed and a gravity discharge, it may under certain conditions be found more convenient to use it in a position inverted from that shown or on a horizontal or other angularly disposed axis. It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit thepatent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims. I claim as my invention; I

:In,..c0mbination ,in a centrifuge for ,,s eparating solids. from a liquid and including an enclosing casing having inlet for the solids laden liquid to be treated, an impeller of generally flattenedistructure having opposite Walls with means therebetween defining fluid impelling passages extending outwardly therethrough from a center and with one of the walls extending outwardly. beyond the other so that the passages open toward one side of the periphery of the impeller, means for rotation of the impeller, a plurality o'fradial vanes on said impeller at the passage openings and projecting away from the extending portion of said one Wall in the direction of the passage openings, means pe ripherally surrounding said impeller and presenting a groovedsurface for collecting separated solids from the centrifugally treated liquid,

means co-operating with said impeller vanes and providing skimmer passage for the separated liquid directed reversely to the centrifugal flow through, the impeller, and means for discharge of the separated liquid from the centrifuge.-

2. In combination in a centrifuge for separating solids from a liquid and including an enclosing casing having inlet for the solids laden liquid to be treated, an impeller of generally flattened structure having opposite walls with means therebetween defining fluid impelling passages extending outwardly therethrough from a center and with one of the walls extending outwardly beyond the other so that the passages open toward one side of the periphery of the impeller, means for rotation of the impeller, a plurality of radial vanes on said impeller at the passage openings and projecting away from the extending portion of said one wall in the direc tion of the passage openings, means peripherally surrounding said impeller and presenting a grooved surface for collecting separated solids from the centrifugally treated liquid, means cooperating with said impeller vanes and providing skimmer passage for the separated liquid directed reversely to the centrifugal flow through the impeller, said impeller vanes having booster surfaces thereon fordriving the separated liquid through. said skimmer passageway, and means for discharge of the separated liquid from the centrifuge.

3. In combination in a centrifuge for separating solids from a liquid and including an enclos ing casing having inlet for the solids laden liquid to be treated, an impeller of generally flattened structure having opposite walls with means therebetween defining fluid impelling passages extending outwardly therethrough from a center and with one of the walls extending outwardly beyond the other so that the passages open toward one side of the periphery of the impeller, means for rotation of the impeller, a plurality of radial vanes on said impeller at, the passage openings and projecting away from the extending portion of said one wall in the direction of the passage openings, means peripherally surrounding. said impeller andpresenting a grooved surface for collooting separated solids from the centrifugally treated liquid, means co-operating with said impeller vanes and providing skimmer passage for the separated liquid directed reversely to the centrifugal flow through the impeller, air vent means communicating with the impeller adjacent said center for exhausting air separated from the liquid, and.m eans for discharge of the separated liquid from the centrifuge.

, i, in combinationin a centrifuge of the characrea e 7 acter described including an enclosing casing having inlet for solids laden liquid tobe treated, an impeller of substantially flattened structure having a distribution chamber at the. center thereof for receiving liquid and entrained solids to be separated, means for effecting rotation of the impeller, the impeller including opposite side walls having means between said walls defining radially extending centrifugal passages therebetween leading from said distribution chamber and opening from the periphery of the impeller,

. one side wall of the impeller being extended be yond the other side wall of the impeller and providing a curved lip for directing the liquid impelled from said passages in a direction beyond said other side wall of the impeller, means cooperating with said lip for receiving separated solids at the extremity of the lip, means opposing said other side wall of the impeller affording skimmer passageway extending reversely to the impeller passages for receiving the separated liquid, and means for discharge of the separated liquid from the centrifuge.

5. In combination in a centrifuge of the char acter described including a casing having inlet means for solids ladenliquid and outlet means for separated liquid, an impeller adapted to receive at the center thereof from said inlet means liquid and entrained solids to be separated, means for rotation of the impeller, said impeller comprising opposed spaced generally radially extending walls defining impeller passageway therebetween and being convergently related in spaced relation adjacent their periphery whereby the liquid and solids to be separated pass said periphcry with substantially Venturi action, and means defining a separation chamber about the periphcry of said impeller adapted to collect solids separated from the liquid and having a shimmer passageway for the separated liquid leading from said periphery radially inwardly parallel to the impeller and communicating with said outlet means.

6. In combination in a centrifuge of thechanacter described, a housing including liquid inlet, an impeller in said housing adapted to receive at the center thereof from the inlet liquid. and entrained solids to be separated, means for rotation of the impeller, saidimpeller affording lateral centrifugal passageway for the liquid and solids and includin means for impelling the liquid toward and from the periphery of'the impeller, said passageway being defined by a Wall sloping from the'liquid receiving center portion of the impeller to direct the liquid primarily radially outwardly but slightly axially toward one side and terminating in a lip projecting in said axial direction, impeller vanes on the periphery of the impeller extending radially and projecting axially substantially beyond said lip, and means cooperating with said impeller vanes for receiving separated solids and separated liquid.

7. In combination in a centrifuge of the character. described, an. impeller structure, adapted to receive. liquid and entrained solids to be separated at the center'there'ofand' affording'a generally radially extending passageway including means for impelling the liquid toward and from the periphery of the impeller, means for rotation of the impeller, an annular structure surrounding the impeller peripherally and having volute solids receiving grooves thereinenlargingin the direction of rotation of the impeller and having subclose contiguity with said annular structure for impelling the solids on through the grooves; S. Incombination in a centrifuge of the char.- acter described including an enclosing housing structure, a centrifugal impeller having opposed wall and dividers between said walls definin relatively flattened passages in the impeller directed towardthe periphery thereof and adapted to receive liquid and entrained solids from adjacent the center of the impeller to drive. the liquid and solids centrifugally from the periphery of the impeller, means for rotation of the impeller, and a collector ring surrounding the periphery of the impeller, said ring being grooved to receive the solids, and means operative in the rotation of the impeller for impelling the separated liquid radially inwardly away from the collector ring.

9. In combination in a centrifuge of the character described including an enclosing housing structure, a rotary impeller having at one side thereof a wall, means supporting the impeller for rotation, a collector ring peripherally sur' rounding said impeller, said ring having volute solidscollecting grooves in the impeller opposing surface thereof and opening exteriorly of the ring for discharge of separated solids, said grooves being disposed at an elevation offset relative to the inner side of said impeller wall, an annular directional control lip on the periphery of the impeller having a feathered edge substantially coinciding with that side of the collector grooves which is nearest the inner surface of said wall to direct separated solids. into the grooves, and skimmer means for the clarified liquid.

10. In combination in a centrifuge of the character described including an enclosing housing structure, av rotary impeller, means for rotating the impeller, a collector ring peripherally surrounding said impeller, said ring having volute solids-collecting grooves in the impeller opposing surface thereof and opening exteriorly of the. ring for discharge of separated solids, a directional control lip on. the periphery of the. impeller having a feathered edge substantially coinciding with one side of the collector grooves to direct separated solids into the grooves, a confining Walton said impeller having its .iiquid confining surface substantially in a plane with the extremity of said lip and spaced therefrom to afford substantial clearance for liquid and solids between said edge and the periphery of. said wall, and means'for receiving the liquid. separated. from the solids.

11. In combination in a centrifuge of the character described, a drive shaft adapted to be'driven rotatably, means for supporting thedrive. shaft rotatably,, a closure member supported bysaid shaft support, a rotary impeller carried by the shaft adjacent said member and including means for centrifugally impelling liquid laterally therefrom, a collector'ring cooperating with said member in encircling relation to the impeller andhaving solids discharge outlet, a skimmer member cooperating with said collector ring and said impeller, and a second closure member carried by said skimmer member, all of said members being secured together in readily separable fashion and providing a housing enclosing said impeller.

12. In combination in a centrifuge of the'character described including an enclosing housing structure, a rotary impeller adapted to receive liquid at the centerthereofand aifording centrifugal passageway including means for impelling the liquid toward the periphery thereof, means for rotation of the impeller, means at the periphery of the impeller for receiving solids separated from the liquid, a skimmer structure affording reverse liquid passageway for separated liquid, and a head structure supported in rotatably adjustable relation to said skimmer structure and having a collector chamber communicating with said skimmer passageway and affording a discharge port adapted to be directed in preferred angular relation by rotary adjustment of the head structure.

13. In combination in a centrifuge of the character described, a rotary impeller adapted to receive solids carrying liquid and entrained air at the center thereof and aifording centrifugal passageway including means for impelling the liquid toward the periphery thereof, means for rotation of the impeller, means at the periphery of the impeller for receiving solids separated from the liquid, a skimmer structure affording reverse liquid passageway for separated liquid, and a structure supported in cooperative relation to said skimmer structure and having a collector chamber for the separated liquid communicating with said skimmer passageway and affording a discharge port, said structure having means for venting air separated from the liquid in the impeller and including a projection extending into communication with the impeller passageway adjacent to the center of the impeller.

14. In a centrifuge for separating solids from a liquid, a first closure member, a collector ring in nested concentric relation with said first closure member and having solids outlet therefrom, a skimmer member supported in nested concentric relation by said collector ring, a second closure member supported in nested concentric relation by said skimmer member, said members operating to provide an impeller chamber, a rotary impeller in said chamber and cooperating with said skimmer and second wall members to provide a central liquid distribution chamber, means for rotation of the impeller, a central delivery passage through said second wall member communicating with said distribution chamber, radial centrifugal passages in said impeller for liquid and entrained solids from said distribution chamber directed toward said collector ring, and. communicating skimmer passageway and liquid collecting chamber in said skimmer and second closure members.

15. In combination in a centrifuge including an enclosing housing structure having inlet for liquid to be clarified, an impeller having means to receive and drive unclarified liquid at high velocity in a relatively thin layer radially therefrom, means for rotation of the impeller, a solids collecting device surrounding the periphery of the impeller in spaced relation to define therebetween an annular settling chamber within which the ,unclarifying liquid is relieved of centrifugal force so that the momentum of the heavier solids will carry them on to the collecting device, and means operating in said chamber and comprising liquid driving elements disposed concentrically relative to the periphery of the impeller to reverse the direction of the clarified liquid and drive it radially inwardly away from the collecting device.

16. In combination in a centrifuge including an enclosing housing structure, an impeller having spaced walls and partitions between said walls defining volute liquid impelling passageways, means for rotation of the impeller, the center of the impeller having a distribution chamber common to all of said passages, means defining an axial passage for delivering unclarified liquid to said distribution chamber, said lastmentioned means including a passage separate from said axial passage and an integral lip structure projecting into said chamber and defining the mouth of said separate passage, said mouth opening'close to and toward the mouths of said impeller passageways which are defined by the partitions, whereby air accumulating at the center of the impeller is drawn off through said lip structure as each of said impeller passageways passes said lip structure in the rotation of the impeller thereby.

17. In combination in a centrifuge of the character described for separating solids entrained in a liquid and including an enclosing housing structure, a shrouded relatively flat impeller, means for rotating the impeller, a skimmer cooperatively related to one face of the impeller inwardly of the periphery of the impeller, vanes at the periphery of the impeller, a lip on the periphery of the opposite side of the impeller coactive with the vanes to drive the clarified liquid radially inwardly toward the skimmer, and means radially outwardly of the periphery of said lip cooperative with said vanes and said lip for collecting the centrifugally separated solids.

ARTHUR H. DEROCI-IER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

